24bit deep .BMP handling? (sorry if this is the 2nd same message)

[Hires]

Hi im new here, i'm working with photosop 5 and i need to know if a 24bit .BMP format can hold alpha channel, i can create the alpha in photoshop but when i use the BMP i external program i can't get its Alpha so i doubted .bmp 24 bit can handle alpha.
Can u please help ?

thanks in advance

[Hires]

Hi im new here, i'm working with photosop 5 and i need to know if a 24bit .BMP format can hold alpha channel, i can create the alpha in photoshop but when i use the BMP i external program i can't get its Alpha so i doubted .bmp 24 bit can handle alpha.
Can u please help ?

thanks in advance

[Mark (theKeeper)]

No Hire, you won't be able to use an Alpha channel with a 24bit BMP.

Instead, try this if it's possible:

Make sure that your image document in Photoshop is in the RGB Mode (Image/Mode/RGB).

Then save it out as a TIF or 24bit PNG. Each of these will preserve an Alpha channel if you've created one in the Channels palette.

PS: actually i can't remember now if PS 5 even supported exporting to the PNG format. But if it does, try it.